Kemonā (Japanese:ケモナー) is aJapanese subcultural term used to describe people who are fond ofanthropomorphic animal characters, which are referred to askemono (Japanese:ケモノ). These terms emerged during the late 1990s within themangadoujin culture,[1] and they are sometimes claimed to have gained popularity when the term was used in thePlayStation 2 game.hack//G.U., released in 2000s.[2][3] Interaction amongkemonā initially revolved arounddoujin conventions, but with the proliferation of theInternet, the fandom has expanded to encompass various online art communities andsocial networking services. As per a 2013 article, the fandom has at least several thousand members.[1]
In Japanese subcultures, human characters with animal features such as ears and tails are often created, but they are not considered to bekemono. Criteria for identifyingkemono often include the presence of amuzzle on the face and an animal-like appearance of the body surface. According to researcher Inokuchi Tomohiro (Japanese:猪口智広), this is due to the recognition of "disconnection from humans" as a crucial factor that distinguishes betweenkemono and non-kemono. Inokuchi notes that while they are concerned with whether or not a character has a personality, they are rarely concerned with the amount of rationality or wildness within the personality. He then defines kemono as "an animal that is depicted as anon-human being, but with the potential for mutual understanding with humans."[1]
Although those who are fond ofkemonomimi character are also referred to askemonā,[4][5] this sort of usage is often controversial as a misuse of the term. This is because those who identify themselves as kemonā basically do not like the idea of being identified with lovers of animal ears.[6]
In 2015, a personal blog introducedKemono Friends, a smartphone game app featuringkemonomimi characters, as "forkemonā." A poster of the article included the sentence "I didn't realize that I was a kemonā, but it seems that I am." This caused an uproar, and finally the blog operator posted an apology.[6] Inokuchi speculates that the fact that manykemonā do not view their identity and the termkemonā in a positive light might have contributed to theflaming.[6]Kemonā may considerkemono characters as sexual objects, but there is a strong tendency for this to be equated withbestiality and considered taboo, which is why the termkemonā is often used in a negative sense.[1] Combined with the strong internal orientation of Japanesedoujin fandom,[clarification needed] fans themselves have rarely actively made their fetishism public. This is believed to be one of the reasons why this fandom was not well known in Japan.[1]
As few commercial works deal withkemono, many of them createoriginal characters and stories.Fursuit culture is also popular.[6]
The termskemono andkemonā were coined in the 1990s, but due in part to thePokémondoujinshi incident in 1999, in which an artist who drew an eroticdoujinshi aboutPokémon was arrested, nokemono-only conventions were held until the 2010s. This is in contrast tokemonomimi-only conventionMimiketto (Japanese:みみけっと), which was first held in 2000.[6]
Some ofkemonā's most representative conventions include Kemoket (Japanese:けもケット), which was held in 2012 for the first time.[6] As for events related to fursuits,Transfur (Japanese:とらんすふぁ) has been held since 2005 under the title of "first transfur event in Japan" and its de facto successorKemocon has been held since 2007.[6] In a 2013 interview, Inokuchi stated, "Originally, there was not much of a direct connection between the community that gathered at doujinshi sales and the community that liked fursuits, but these events have made this cohesion visible, and a newkemono culture is emerging that integrates the both."[6]
Although, the kemonā design features kawaii (cute in japanese) design depending of the kemonā design part feature.
CyberConnect2, a game development company credited with popularizing the termkemonā, launched theKemono Project [ja] and sellsanthologies and merchandise.[2][7] YOS Corporation, which sellsKemonohime [ja], asex doll forkemonā, realized during commercial research that there were no adult products targetingkemonā, and created it as the "ultimate adult goods" for them.[8][9]
じつは松山氏や、CC2のスタッフたち自身は、"ケモノ"、"ケモナー(ケモノ好きな人)"という言葉をそれほど意識していたわけではなかったそうなだ。しかしネット界隈の意見を見る限り、どうやら"広く普及させたのはサイバーコネクトツーである"ということになっているようだと知り、スタッフたちが「そういうことなら、どうせなら日本一のケモナー会社として、何なら陣頭指揮を執っていこう！」(松山氏)となったのだそうだ。